Chapter 36

Present

The feeling of that kiss still lingered on his lips as he knelt on the ground, bloodied and broken. He could smell her hair, the feeling of her pressed up against him, of the connection they shared. But it had been too long, and far too late, for there to ever be anything between them anymore.

They had separated after their brief kiss, both with the knowledge that whatever had been between them was irrevocably broken, never to be repaired.

That had been the last time he had seen her. She had left, to return to her Fiancé and the life she had built, and he had chased after Tabitha, intent on investigating her crimes.

But he had failed, just like he had so many times before with her.

Slowly opening his eyes, Wil saw that he was face to face with the Armored Warrior, a mocking grin on his face as he assessed him.

“Sleeping already, Wilhelm? But we’re just beginning! Stand up! Come on, I’m not finished with you yet.” The creature said, breaking out into mocking laughter once more.

The mocking continued, but Wil couldn’t hear it. He could see the Warrior’s mouth move, knew words were being spoken, but the only sound he heard was the pounding of his heart in his ears, and a faint whisper in the back of his mind.

“Wilhelm, are you ignoring me?”

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Two Weeks Previous

“What?” Wil asked, turning, and looking at the young woman walking beside him.

“I said, are you ignoring me?” Mara asked, gripping his arm to ensure he was focused on her.

Ahead, Serena was excitedly looking at the market stalls, safely concealed under her ring’s illusion, appearing as a regular human. They had been visiting Mara in Aachen for a few days before he traveled to Brookmoor, and the young girl was loving every second of the city.

“Of course not!” Wil said, flashing her a grin. He was enjoying his time here as well. Mara’s presence had a way of relaxing him. Her teasing manner, the way she took the lead with Serena, he felt the pressure of the last seven years fade.

“Good! Because we’re supposed to be a young couple, taking our daughter out for a day of fun and adventure. You wouldn’t want to blow our cover by ignoring me, would you?” Mara asked, smiling, and wrapping both her arms around his upper arm, gripping him tightly.

That was the cover they had for Serena, newlyweds recently arrived in Aachen. Although, it seemed Mara was taking her role very seriously…

“Heaven forfend! What kind of husband would do that?” Wil exclaimed, acting as if the very idea was abhorrent to him.

“Exactly!” Mara replied, watching as Serena ran from one stall to the next, picking up curiosities and trinkets, before placing them down and moving to the next. Wil hadn’t seen her this excited in years, not since the last time Amora had visited them in the Wilds. It made the entire trip worth it, in his opinion.

“Have you thought about what you both are going to do after you travel to Brookmoor?” Mara asked, freeing one her arms to brush a hand through her hair. She had grown it much longer in the time they had been apart, her short warrior bob replaced with curling rings down to her shoulders.

“A bit. Lund is out of the question, not after how we left it. Maybe Khmer? I always wanted to travel there.” Wil replied.

“You could…” Mara began, biting her lip with indecision for a moment before her face took on a look of resolve.

“You could stay here, you know. You and Serena.” She finished, looking up at him. Wil was a bit startled by how serious she had gotten. Her normal, playful expression was gone for the moment.

“I don’t know. Aachen is nice and all, but I don’t know about buying a place here. I had a house in Ur, before they seized it.” Wil said.

“You moron. I meant you could stay here with me. You and Serena could live with me.” She said, placing emphasis on ‘live’. It took Wil a moment to catch onto what she was saying.

“I…I didn’t know you felt that way.” Wil stammered, a blush creeping onto his cheeks.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know. My parents are pushing for me to get married, settle down. It’s part of the reason I bought a place in Aachen. Kind of a way to demonstrate to them that I was considering it.” Mara explained.

“So, you want to be with me because of your parents?” Wil teased.

“No, you fool!” Mara replied, pinching his arm with her free hand. Wil broke into laughter at her response.

“I just thought…Listen, I’m not good with this sort of thing, so I’m just going to say it. I like you. I’ve known you for years, and we get along really well. I’ve never met anyone who I feel this…comfortable with.” She finished, ducking her head to hide her face from him in embarrassment.

“I know I’m not rich like Annabelle Quentin, or as beautiful as Astrid, but I…” She was cut off as Wil stopped walking.

“I don’t care about money, and I think you’re beautiful, Mara. Don’t ever think you’re less than anyone else. You’re fantastic, and any man would be lucky to have you. It’s just…” Wil paused, searching for the right words.

“Everything falls to shit when I’m around. Brookmoor, the Academy, our time together in the Caravan. One disaster after another. I just attract trouble. I wouldn’t want something to happen to those I love just because I’m around.” Wil said.

“I can take care of myself, Wil.” Mara said, letting her mana loose for a moment. Wil could feel the strength in her, knowing how capable she was as a warrior.

“I know that. Give me some time. After I visit Brookmoor to see what my father wants, things will become clearer. Let’s just enjoy this time together without all the complications. And afterwards…only the gods know what the future holds, but I can see us staying here. Staying with you.” Wil suggested. At his words, Mara broke out into a wide grin. Stepping forward, she pressed her lips against his, kissing him more thoroughly than any woman had before in his life.

Out of breath, Mara stepped back, tilting her head to look up at him.

“I don’t need the gods to tell me what this evening holds.” She whispered, a devilish grin appearing on her face.

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Present

Wil came awake just as an armored fist slammed into his stomach, knocking the air out of his lungs. Collapsing onto the ground, he struggled to breath while his face was next to an armored boot.

“I dislike being ignored, mortal.” The Armored Warrior said, emphasising his words with a kick to Wil’s face. Wil’s neck let out a loud crack as his head snapped backwards. The force of the blow was enough to send him onto his back. Writhing on the ground, unable to breath, his vision blackened on the edges.

The only thing keeping him alive was the scant amount of mana remaining in his core, furiously cycling in an attempt to keep his heart beating and body functioning. Wil couldn’t speak, the kick had dislocated his jaw, sending jolts of agony with every attempt to gain a breath.

“I am disappointed, Wilhelm. I had heard tales of your resilience and capabilities. Secundus herself is said to favor you beyond all others.” The Warrior said, kneeling down beside the prone figure of Wil. With a mocking look on his face, he continued his taunting.

“Why don’t you pray to her, mortal. Pray for deliverance.” The Warrior waited, looking up at the night sky, listening for a response.

“You see? Nothing, your gods are as useless as you are, human. But don’t lose hope. The solution is simple. Pray to me. Pray to me with sincerity, and I will end your suffering.”